News Briefs for the Week of February 16

North Cowichan Council is considering a bylaw that will shift 20 per cent of property taxes currently paid by Light Industrial ratepayers “equally across the remaining eight property classes.”

The proposal was to be considered at a Committee of the Whole meeting Feb. 11 in council chambers. Councillors will consider the shift in the context of an overall 2.51 per cent ‘net tax increase’ for the municipality.

A report to council from Mark Frame, director of finance, says North Cowichan is in a position to reduce its net tax increase from an initial projection of 2.96 to 2.51 per cent.

It goes on to say: ”Council identified a review of the Class 5 Light Industry tax rate/ratio as a priority for 2016 in order to improve competitiveness.

“Based on this priority, tax distribution options have been provided that reduce taxes for Class 5 – Light Industry.”

Library board, and CUPE 401 settle on five year contract to Dec. 2019

The Vancouver Island Regional Library and its CUPE 401 employees have settled on a collective agreement which will cover the five year period ending Dec. 31, 2019, says a VIRL media release.

CUPE members voted in favour of a ‘memorandum of agreement’ Feb. 5.

The collective agreement was settled with the assistance of a mediator between the VIRL and CUPE 401 Jan. 14. The VIRL Board of Trustees 38 members ratified the agreement at its January Annual General Meeting.